Hydroaeroplane.



E. P. EKMAN.

HYDROAEROPLANB. 'APPLICATION FILED S,EPT.15, 1Q11.

1,0%;394. Patendmay 14,1912.

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E. P; BKMAN.-

HYDROAEBPLANE.

I APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 15, 19.11.. 4 11,026, 304 Patented May 14,1912.

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' manned may 14, 1912;'

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EINAR P. EKMAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HYDROAEROPLANE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EINAR P. EKMAN, a subject of the Kingdom of Sweden,and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydroaeroplanes, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification. l

My invention relates to that class of iiying machines wherein the planesare arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane,

y thus producing the monoplane type of ma# chine, which is also adaptedto tioat onthe water, as will be more fully understood from thefollowing detailed description; the object of the invention being toprovide a machine that will presentjas little resisting surface in thedirection of travel as possible, and also to provide means whereby themachine may be readily and quickly operated and its d-irectioncontrolled, -aS well as to provide mechanism whereby the means, whichenables the machine to float., may be readily manipulated and therelative position thereof controlled, as will be more fully hereinafterset forth.V

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elcvation of my improved machine.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevationthereof. Fig. 4 is a partial .sectional View of the machine intermediate'of the cock-pit and the mast.; the extreme frontend of the body portionof 'the machine being shown in side elevation, with a portion of theLmechanism broken away. Fig.` 5 is a sectional view taken on the a-o ofFig. 2 through the cock-pit, and looking forward as indicated by thearrows.

G is a detail view of the means employed for maintaining the' .pontoonor air chamber in proper relation with the frame of the machine. Fig. 7is a sectional view taken on the line b-b of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a`sectional view taken on the line c-c of Fig. 1. yFig 9 isa detail viewin elevation of a modification of the ailerons; and Fig.

10 is an 'end view of same showing same in effective position.

In the exempliiication of my invention, I' show the body 15 made torpedoshape or,

cylindrical in forni tapering toward the rear end thereof; the taperbeing accom- Specicaton of Letters Patent.'

Patented May 14, 1912'.-

Application led September 15, 1911. Serial No. 649,526.

plished by a gradual reduction of the vertical diameter, therebyincreasing the horizont-al diameter at the rear end as clearly indicatedrby Fig. S. The rear end of the body portion 15 is provided with a topand bottom keel 16 and 17 respectively, which are firmly securedthereto. The body portion may be of any suitable material such as thinsheet metal; the keels 16 and 17 heilig constructed of similar material.The keels are made gradually increasing in a vertical direction, withtheir rear edges curved toward the end of the body portion as clearlyshown in Fig. 1. The front end of the body portion 15 is preferablyprovided with the conical shaped hood or cap portion 18, sce Fig. 1,which provides a bearing for the shaft of propeller 19, to be driven byany suitable type of 4engine or motor and Iwhich may be mounted withinthe fore part of the body portion 15.

Secured in a convenient manner to opposite sides of the body portion 15,are the' supporting planes 20 and21; both planes being similar inconstruction and curved Vtoward the rear side thereof as clearly shownin Figs. 1 and 2; the planes being preferably reinforced longitudinallyby the angle irons or T-shaped ribs 22. In order to preventtlie outerends of the planes bending downward, I prefer to provide the tie wires23 which pass over or are secured to the mast. 24, thereby givingsupport to the outer ends of the planes. Ata short distance from thefree ends of the planes, I provide the rigidly braced, downwardlyextending members 25 and 26,- said members being intended to extend atright angles to the planes and be held against any lateral movement. Thelower edges of the members 25 and 26 arepreferably made toincliiie'iipwardly toward the rear as more clear] shown in Fig. 1. i

Hinged to the lowe'r edges of members 25 and 26 are the ailerons 27 and2S; the rear portion of the ailerons being of larger dimensionsvertically, corresponding with the incline of thc lower edges of members25 and 26, see Fi 1. The ailerons 27 and 28"arc maintaine in theirnormal vertical positions by the springs 28" secured to the free ends ofthe planes, see Fig. 3, while the opposite sides of the ailerons areprovided with controlling cables or .wires 29 and 30;-preferablyramified so as to exert a pull onboth lower corners of theailerons-these cables are in turn passed through the planes and up overa pulley or pulleys at the top of the-mast, leading down through themast 24. into the body of the machine where they are passed over pulleys31, and secured to .foot levers'32 and 33, respectively, the levers 32and 33 being pivotally mounted as at 34.Y lVith the cables or wires 29and 30 madeV just long enoughVA to lreach from the end of the footlevers to the ailerons, when both theV levers-and the ailerons are innormal posi tion, it is apparent that the ailerons cannotbe drawn towardthe springs beyond the vertical plane occupied by them as shown in Figa3. I

The rear end of the body portion 15`is pro#V vided with ahorizontallypivoted rudder 35,- which is provided withl the verticallyextending arms 36 and 37, to the free ends of which are secured thecables or wires38 and 39,

V which lead forward into the body of the machine and are secured to theends of lever 40, see Fig. 4, which Ais pivotally mountedv at 41 and haspivoted connection with the shaft 42. Shaft 42 is slidably mounted in*the collar 43, which in turn is securedto a a tion and out o l ,y

` cables or wires 38 and 39 are passed through cross member or bar 44.The shaft 42, whose outer end is Aprovided with operating wheel 45, maybe moved longitudinally thereby moving lever 40 on its pivotal point,causing the lever to rotate about its pivotal point and cause the wiresor cables 38 and 39 to pull on the vertical arms 36 and 37 as thc casemay be.` For example, if shaft 42 is pushed forward, it is evident thatthe lower end of lever 40 will be moved forward and pull on cable 39,the other end of which is per end thereof to move forward, exerting apull on cable 38, and incline rudder 35 upward. In order that the cables38 and 39V may be held a ainst the side of the-body p0rthe way of. theoperator, these suitable rings or loops 46, see Fig. 4.

Pivotally secured to the rear edges of both planes 20 and 21, andpreferably near the outer'ends thereof, are the` vertically arranged:rudders 47 and 4,8. Any suitable means for supporting and pivotingtheserudderst'o the planes may be employed, so 'as to permit the ruddersA toswing in a lateral direction. Theinnergsides of therudders are...provided with brackets 49 of suitable construction, to which arepivotally secured'v links 50, the outer endsof are prefer# 'the doubledrum or spool 57, which is se-v cured to the shaft 42 so as to revolvetherewith. rate cables or wires leading to the same lelver, a singlecable orY wire might be employed, wound lseveral times'about the drumand made taut so astA prevent slipping, so

Of course, instead lof having sepa-- that when one end is wound vup theother will beunwound. It isapparent from thev construction shown andVdescribed that if hand wheel 45 is turned' to the left in Fig. 2,'wires or cables 54 and 55, -will be wound up on the drum 57 therebyunwinding wires -or cables 53 and '56, thus causing levers 51= and 52 tobe swung on their pivots; this'will cause link 50 to pull rudder 47toward the y body of the machine, while the pull of'wirc ,55 will causelever 52to1n'ove ladjacent link 50 outward thereby moving rudder 48outward, as clearly indicatedindotted lines in Fig. 2. By reason of therelation betweenr the pivotal points, it is apparent that the movementof rudder 48 outward will be greater than the movement inward of rudder47. With the rudders 47 and 48 in the position shown in dotted lines i'nFig. 2, greater resistance will be presented by vrudder 48 which willcause the machine to swing about ina circle with the outer end of plane21 describing a vsmaller 'circle than, that described by plane 20.

The machine is provided with suitable alighting gear composed of theframe 'mem-v bers 58, provided with suitable brace rods 59 and 60; theends of the frame members providing bearings for the. journals 6l' towhich the wheels 62 are secured. The frame members are suitablysupported or securedA to the sides of the body 15 by the brackets sidesof the body-portion as clearly shown. Each frame member 58 is providedwith the vertically extending channel member V64, more clearly shown -inFig. 6,' adapted/to receive the head portionV of the TA-shaped members65, which are secured to the sides of a pontoon or .air chamber 66, andthus provide vertically extending slide ways for the pontoon. Theairchamber or pontoon 66 maybe of any suitable shape; it is shown providedwith the upwardly sloping front end, while the sides thereof are made toeX- tend beyond the top of the'chamber or pontoon so .as to envelop thelower portion of -therbodyl 'see Figs. 1, 3, and 4. p li Secured to thedifferent frame members 58 'and at suitable points, are the springcatches 67, 67, and 68, 68, the construction whereof is more clearly setforth in Fig. it being understood, of course, that each frame member 58is provided with a spring catch 67 and catch 68. These catches arearranged to extend into the path of the head portion of the T-'shapedmembers 65, and have the cables or `wires 69, 69, secured to the outer'or free arms thereof, see Fig. 5. These cables or wires 69 extend fromthe lower catches 68,-.-being also secured to the free arms of catches67-up over pulleys 70 secured at the upper part of the frame portions 58and pass into the body of the machine, where they are secured to thefoot lever 71.

Instead of employing separate cables 69, it is apparent that a singlecable may be employed, extending from the catches on one side of themachine to those directly oppositeon the other side of the machine, andso arranged that when foot lever 71 is depressed a pull will be exertedon the cables 69 thereby pulling catches 67 and 68 outward, until thehead portion of the catches will be drawn out of the path and frombeneath the members 65 secured to the sides of the pontoon 66. When thisis done, it is evident that the pontoon will slide downwardly as far asthe channel or slide ways 64 will permit. Catches 68 have theirhead'portions face in theo posite direction from those of catches 6 sothat after the pontoon has been dropped, catches 68 will lock it in itslowered position and thus maintain the .pontoon or air chamber in properposition to float the machine on water. In order to return the pontoonor air chamber 66 to its normal position adjacent to the body portion 15of the machine, foot lever 71 must be a ain depressed to exert a pull oncable or ca les 69 which will draw the catches 67 and 68 out of the pathor slide `ways in frame members 58. While the lever is still depressed,hand wheel 72 is then operated which, byreason ofI the sprocket chain78, will rotate the drum 74, 74, see Fig. 2, mounted onr the same shaftwith sprocket wheel 74, and windl cables 75 and 76,-of which there aretwo sets, one to each side of the machinefanddraw the pontoon upward toits normal position. As shown in Fig. 4,` cables 75 extend forward fromthe drum, which is mounted near the cock-pit of themachine, over pulleys77 secured to the front or 'body 15 of the mas chine.

Inthe operation of my machine when it is desired tovascend, thepropeller of course being in operation, shaft 42 is drawn toward theoperator, thereby swinging lever 40,

A,pulling on cablel or wire 38 which willA tilt rudder'35 upward; todescend, 'shaft 42 should be pushed from the operator thereby reversingthe operation of lever 40, exerting a pull on cable or wire 39 andtilting rudder 35 downwardly.

In lorder to prevent-any skidding of the machine, I provide thevertically extending members 25 and 26, which enable the machine beingheld to its course.

Should the equilibrium of the machine be distiirbed, that is, forexample, should the plane to the left of Fig. 8 be below the horizontalplane occupied by the plane to the right of said figure, and it isdesired to right the machine, the operator will press on foot lever 82,exerting a pull on cable Vor wire 29, which will move aileron 27 againstthe action of its spring into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.3. By reason of the fact that the aileron is of greater verticaldimension at the rear, with the rear portion in a higher horizontalplane than the front edge thereof, it is apparent vthat the resistanceoffered will tend to pull that side of the machine downward until theaileron is released and the spring restores it to its vertical or normalposition. Should the operator desire to lower the opposite side or planeof the machine, he will press foot lever 33, exerting a pull on cable orwire 30, and move aileron 28 toward the body of the machine. If theoperator desires to change his course in a horizontal direction, as forexample should he desire to turn the machine to the left, in Fig. 2, hewill turn the shaft 42 toward the left c in Fig. 2, thereby winding upcables or strands 53 and 55, which will move rudders 47 and 48 into ytheposition shown in dotted lines in said figure. With the construction ofmechanism heretofore described, it is evident that greater resistancewill be offered by rudder 48 to the direction of flight and compel themachine to turn to the left, in Fig. 2.

In order that the machine may be made as simple as possible it ispreferable that the same mechanism be employed to operate both rudders,although as a matter of fact, it is evident that rudders 47 and 48 mightbe made to operate independently of each other, but I believe theconstruction shown and described to be a simple one. Also, instead ofemploying a pair of large ailerons, as illustrated in Figs. l and 3, ,itis evident that a number of smaller ailerons could be pivotally securedone vbeneath the other, with the ailerons to one side of the machinebeing operated simultaneously and thereby affording a greaterresistance; for, example in Figs. 9 and 10, I illustrate a modificationwherein a vertically extending frame 78 depends from members 25 and 26,between which a number afy ailerons 27, 27?, 27", are pivoted. The wireor cable 29 in this construction is secured to the different `operatetogether.

sections or separate ailerons so that allvof the ailerons on that sideof the machineI will chine may be modified in certain other detailswithout departing however from the spirit of my invention, as forexample instead of having the extra chamber or pontoon 66, a section orpart of the lower half 'of the tubular body between the alight-ing gearmay be made into an air chamber and detachably secured in place; and Ido not wish to be understood therefore as limiting myself to the exactconstruction shown and of the body, ailerons pivotally mounted be neaththe planes and normally held in verdescribed, but 15 -ters Patent isWhat yI claim and wishto secure by Let- 1. A machine of the classdescribed, comprising a tapering tubular body, the rear end of which isattened in a horizontal di rection, a pair of laterally extendingsustaining surfaces or planes secured to opposite sides of the forwardend ofthe body,

-ailerons pivotally ,secured to the under sides of the planes andnormally at right angles tical position, means whereby the ailerons maybe moved out of their vertical planes, a

' pair of rudders-pivotally secured to the rear sides of the planes andarranged to' move 4 about yvertical axes, and a pontoon slidablylmounted to the body portion.

' i 3.,v A machine'of the class described, comyprising a taperingtubular body, a pair of i sustaining surfaces orpl'ars rigidly 'secured'to opposite sides of the forward portion of the body, rigidly heldmembers dependi-ng from the planes at right angles thereto, aileronspivotally secured to the .lower ends of said members, means whereby theailero-ns may be moved at an angle to the perpendicular plane o f saidmembers, rudders arranged to move about vertical axes at the rear sidesof theY planes, an ascending or descending rudder pivotally secured tothe rear end' of the body, means whereby the rudders may be manipulated,and a pontoon slidably mounted beneat-hthe body of Y the machine.

4. A machine of theclass described, comprising a tapering tubular body,a pair of Furthermore, the ina-- sustaining surfaces or planes rigidlyse-` cured at opposite sides to the forward part of t-he body, saidplanes being bowed downwardly toward t-he rear, anti-skidding memberssecured at right angles to the under surfaces of the planes, saidmembers being of greater dimensions vertically at the front than at t-herear, ailerons vpivotally mounted at the lower edges of said members,means whereby the ailerons may be manipulated, a pair of verticallydisposed rudders mounted to the rear ofthe planes, means whereby saidrudders are controlled, and a horizontally disposed rudder pivotally`mounted at therear end of the tubular body.

5. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a tapering tubular body.

provided with sustaining surfaces or-planes rigidly secured to oppositesides of the forward portion thereof, with a pontoon slidably mountedbeneath the body portion thereof and means whereby the pontoon may Vbelocked in its adjusted positions.

6. In a machine of t-he class described, the combination of a taperingtubular body provided vwith sustaining surfaces or planes, l

prising a tapering tubular body, the rear of which is flattened inahorifzontal direction,

a pair of sustaining surfaces or pla-nes rigidly secured to the forwardpart of the body, vertically disposed members securedto the undersurfaces of the imity to their ends, ailerons pivotally secured to thelower edges of said members, means whereby said aileron's'may bemanipulated and maintained in normal position, a

lanes andin proxpair. of vertically disposed rudders secured i to theIrear of each of said planes and in proximityto the outer ends thereof,means operated, a horizontally disposed rudder portion, alightingfge'arsecured to the body portion and depending therefrom, a'nd a pontoonslidably mounted in the alighting gearfbeneath said body portion.

8. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of a taperingtubular body havin@ a pair of planes rigidly secured to oppo-l sitesides of the forward part thereof, said planes being provided withportions extending at right angles to theunder surfaces thereof, andrudders vertically disposed and pivotally secured to the rear sidesoft-the' 11.5. vwhereby said'rudders are simultaneously pivotallysecured to the rear end of the body y 85 tally op osite sides of theforward part of the.

V bo y, members secured atv right angles to the under sides of saidplanes, ailerons pivotally mounted beneath said members,

. means whereby the ailerons may be moved toward the body, a pair'ofrudders secured to vertically dlsposed axes at.the rear of the' planesand 1n proximity tothe outer ends thereof, and a rudder secured to the20 horizontally disposed axis at the rear end of p the .body'of themachine.

1'0. Amachine of the class described comprising a tapering tubular bodyprovided with an air chamber detachably secured i thereto, means wherebythe relative position of said chamber may be controlled, a pair ofplanes rlgidly secured to opposite sldes of said tubular body, aileronspivotally mounted beneath the planes and in proximity to the outer endsthereof, means whereby said ailerons may be controlled, a pair ofrudders arranged to swing about vertically disposed axes in proximity tothe outer ends ofthe planes, and 'a rudder secured to a horizon disposedaxis at the rear of the machine..,.4 11. A machine of the classdescribed comprising a tapering tubular body provided with an airchamber detachably secured 4,0 thereto, means for controlling therelative .position of saidchamber, a pair of sustainlng surfaces or`planes rigidly secured to v \opposite sides of the body, memberssecured at right angles' to the under sides of said y, A45j planes,ailerons secured beneath `the planes and normally at right anglesthereto, means kwhereby the ailerons maybe manipulated and theuilibriumlof'the machine restored, la vertica. ly' dis osed `ruddersecured to the 50" rear edge of eac of said planes and inproximity totheA outer lends thereof, means whereby saidrudders may be controlled soas't offer. different degrees of resistance, a yrudder horizontally disosed at the rear end of the body, and mec anism arranged to lcontrolvthe vertically disposed rudders when operated in'one directionandarranged to ber secure 'control the horizontallyV disposed rudderswhen operated in another direction.

12. A machine of the class described, comprising a tapering t-ubularbody provided with a removable a1r chamber, s ring mcchanism formaintaining said cham er 1n the desired position, a pair of planesrigidly se-` cured to opposite sides of the body, a memthereof, one ormoreAH ailerons pivotally mounted beneath:the planes and normallyextending at right angles thereto, means whereby ailerons beneath oneplane may be operated independently `of those beneath-the other, arudder vertically disposed at the rear edge of each of the planes and inproximity to the other ends thereof, a horizon-` tally disposed `ruddermounted at the rear end of the'body, and mechanism arran ed to controlthe vertically disposed rud ers when operated in one direction or tocontrol the horlzontally disposed rudders when operated in anotherdirection.

413. A machine of the class described comprising a 4tapering tubularbody provided with an upwardly extending mast, a pair of planes securedto opposite sides-of the body, the outer ends thereof being supported bysaid mast, a wedge shaped ymember secured at right angles to the undersides of both of said planes and in proximity tothe outerl ends thereof,ailerons pivotally mounted lbeneath said members and adapted to movetoward the body, a vertically disposed rudder secured to each of saidplanes at ,the rear edge of said wedge shaped member, a. horizontallydisposed rudder at the rear end of the body, means whereby the ruddersmay be controlled, 'and an air chamber detach-l ably secured beneath thebody.

14. A machine of the class describedcomprising ay tapering tubular bodyprovided proximity to the outer en s thereof, a.`

at yright angles to the outer ends horizontally disposed rudderpivotally vsecured to the rear-end of the body, and. means whereby saidrudders may be'manipulated.

EINAR P. EKMAN. Witnesses:

GEORGE 'HEIDMAN, N. A. STREET.

